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EXCURSION 

PLANNED FOR THE 

CITY HISTORY CLUB 

OF 

NEW YORK 

BY 

GEORGE W. NASH, M. D., 

No. X— HISTORIC RICHMOND, 

Compiled from the "MEMORIAL HISTORY OF STATEN ISLAND," 
by IRA K. MORRIS, and from information given by many 
friends on the Island. 

PRICE, 10 CENTS. 

Mailed on receipt of price by The City History Club, 
23 W. 44th Street. 



Copyright, 1908, by the City History Club of New York. 






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f~\BJECT.— The City History Club (founded in 1896) has for its object, the study of 
the history of the City of New York, in the hope of awakening an interest in its 
past development and traditions and in the possibilities of its future, such educational 
work being for the improvement, uplifting and civic I etterment of the community. 

To that end a series of historical excursions was planned which, from time to 
time, it has been found necessary to revise in order (1) to correct errors due to misin- 
formation, of which even standard books of New York history are not entirely free ; 
(2) to keep pace with the march of improvements whereby the topography of the City 
is constantly changing ; and (3) to add material as new light is shed on the past and as 
new tablets and monuments are erected to mark historic sites. 

By its efforts, literature, lectures, and by these historical excursions interest in City 
history has been awakened since the organization of the Club, and many students have 
devoted their time to research and study of life in old New York. To those who, 
influenced by their example, desire to enter upon the fascinating acquisition of knowl- 
edge of our great City's growth, the following books will be helpful : Todd's " Story 
of New York " (Putnam) ; Goodwin's " Historic New York," two bound volumes com- 
posed of 24 monographs ; "The Half Moon Series," which may be purchased sepa- 
rately (Putnam); Hemstreet's " Literary Landmarks of New York " (Putnam); Janvier's 
"In Old New Yurk " and "The Dutch Founding of New York " (Harper); Hem- 
street's " Nooks and Corners of Old New York" and "When Old New York was 
Young " (Scribner) : Innes' " New Amsterdam and Its People " (Scribner); Ulmann's 
" Landmark History of New York" (Appleton); R. R. Wilson's " New York Old and 
New " (Lippincott) ; reproductions of noted historical maps and pictures of Old New 
York (Dunreath Publishing Co.). Special works include : " Annals of Staten Island," 
by J. J. Clute (1877); " History of Richmond County, New York," edited by R. M. 
Bayles (1887); Staten Island Magazine, Vol. I, Nos. 2 and 3, Aug. and Oct.. 1888; 
" Proceedings of the Natural Science Association of Staten Island," Vols. I-IX, 1883- 
1003, and (under the Society's new name), " Proceedings of the Staten Island Associa- 
tion of Arts and Sciences," Vol. I, 1906-07; "Staten Island Names," by William T. 
Davis, with a very valuable map by Charles W. Leng, and "Supplement to Staten 
Island Names," by William T. Davis, both pub. by the Natural Science Association, 
New Brighton, Staten Island, N. Y.; " Memorial History of Staten Island," by Ira K. 
Morris, 2 vols., 1898 and 1900. 

Thanks are due to Wm. T. Davis, Jas. H. Innes and E. H. Hall for valuable 
suggestions and criticisms for this Excursion. 

The City History Club would greatly appreciate corrections and additions to the 
points covered in this excursion, especially if authorities are quoted. 



71 • . 



STATEN ISLAND— HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

The Indian name of the island was "Aquehonga Man-ack-nong," 
meaning the place of the high, sandy banks ; in some old documents it is 
called " Eghqua-hons," which has the same meaning. 

Previous to the coming of the white man, the island was occupied by 
the Raritans, a branch of the Delawares, under tribute to the Mohawks. 
Traces of the shell heaps made by the Indians are found in various parts 
of the Island. 

With the coming of the European, the history of Staten Island is 
wrapped up with that of the neighboring territory. 

Verrazano discovered the island in 1524. On September 2, 1609, Henry 
Hudson anchored in the Lower Bay and first saw the island, which was 
named " Staaten Eylandt " as a memorial to the States General of the 
Netherlands, under whose directions he was sailing. 

The first settlement was at " Oude Dorp " (old town) early in the period 
of the Dutch colonization. Among the first settlers were the Rapaelje 
family, who were connected with the first white inhabitants of Long 
Island. 

The Indians sold the island repeatedly; first to Michael Pauw in 1630, 
the first patroon, who called his grant " Pavonia." In 1639, David Petersen 
de Vries, obtaining a grant from Governor Van Twiller, introduced some 
settlers. In 1641, Cornells Melyn was made a patroon and the third 
attempt to settle the island was made at Oude Dorp. The Indians 
destroyed this village in 1641 and again in 1655, after which it was never 
rebuilt. (But see Note, p. 24). 

In 1658 the Waldenses founded a village at Stony Brook; which 
lasted until the middle of the eighteenth century, when it crumbled away. 
The latter part of the seventeenth century saw the Huguenots settling at 
Marshland, now Greenridge. During Kieft's misrule, the island suffered 
with the adjoining territory the ravages of the Indians. 

The English settled on the island in Stuyvesant's time and finally, in 
1664, it came with other Dutch possessions under the British rule of Gov- 
ernor Nicolls, his first act being the capture of a block house on Staten 
Island. The setting off of the island from New Jersey was due partly to 
the difficulty of collecting the taxes; the Duke of York, to whom his 

Note. — The island contains about 4q,28o acres; the greatest length is a little over 13^ 
miles and the greatest breadth is 200 leet over 7% miles. 



brother, the King, had previously given New York, on this account decided 
in 1668 that all islands in the harbor that could be circumnavigated in 
twenty-four hours should belong to New York, otherwise to New Jersey. 
Captain Billopp successfully accomplished the feat in the prescribed time 
and the island was adjudged to New York. A tract of land was awarded 
to him and he established the Manor of Bentley, near what is now Totten- 
ville. New Jersey disputed this decision and the question was only satis- 
factorily settled in 1833. In 1673 the island was retaken by the Dutch, but 
was finally restored to the English on February^, 1674. In 1679 the 
Labadists visited the island, and it is from them that so much of the every- 
day life of the colonists is known. The island was made into Richmond 
County in 1683; in 1688 it was divided into the towns of Northfield. 
Southfield, Westfield and Castleton ; Middletown was established in i860. 
Cucklestowne, now Richmond, was made the county seat in 1729. 

As headquarters of the British during the Revolution, the island was 
under martial law; many of the inhabitants were lukewarm to the patriot 
cause. 

Sir William Howe brought his forces here July 3, 1776; his brother, 
General Howe, made his headquarters here also. The British erected forts 
at various places : at times the Americans attempted to oust the British, 
and on their part the British made excursions from the island to the 
neighboring country. The British troops vacated the island on November 
25, 1783, when many of the American Loyalists moved to other parts of the 
British Empire. 

By act of Legislature, slavery was abolished on July 4, 1825, when the 
fact was much celebrated. (See No. 12.) The island was governed by 
about seventy different boards until 1898, when it became the Borough of 
'Richmond of Greater New York. It now feels the same impulses that exist 
in the other boroughs. 

EXCURSION No. X. 
For Excursion from Miuihattan take the Staten Island Municipal 
Ferry, at South Ferry, to St. George. 
Figures refer to Map I, pp. 12-13. 

SECTION I. -ST. GEORGE TO HOWLANU'S HOOK. 
Walk up Jay Street to South, then up. 
(1.) Borough Hall ; here are the rooms of the Staten Island Associa- 
tion of Arts and Sciences, containing, among other relics, the only mile- 



5 

stone known to exist on the island ; it stood at the corner of Signs Road 
and Richmond Turnpike on the post route between New York and 
Philadelphia ; all that is now to be made out is 

Miles 

to 

N. YorkE. 

(2.) Fort Hill, at the head of Fort Place, just above Sherman Avenue ; 
here can be seen a masonry cavern used formerly as a reservoir, and also 
the outlines of a British fort. 

Walk back to Tompkins Avenue; go north. 

(3.) Castleton Hotel ; burned November, 1907, occupying the site of the 
old St. Marks Hotel, at the corner of Nicholas Street and St. Marks 
Place; St. Marks Hotel was constructed out of the old " Marble House,' 
built by Gilbert Thompson as a private house and at one time occupied by 
August Belmont ; the large building opposite is the High School. 

Walk down Nicholas Avenue to and along the Terrace. 

(4.) Pavilion Hotel ; between Church Street and Westervelt Avenue, 
now a tenement house; it was built in 1822 as a residence for Thomas E. 
Davis, and later became a hotel for wealthy Southerners. 

(0.) Hessians Springs; north on Jersey Street and parallel to it, off 
the Terrace ; now utilized by the Hessian Springs Ice Company. It was 
once the most noted resort near New York, and was so called from the 
Hessian camp located here during the Revolution ; there were two redoubts 
here on the heights at the entrance to the Kills. 

Near-by, on the shore, Gilbert Thompson, son-in-law of Gov. Tomp- 
kins, built a schooner, in which he conveyed his family to Mexico ; later it 
was used to bring Santa Anna, after the Mexican War, to Staten Island ; 
he lived in the DuBois House ; see No. 19. 

Near-by was the site of Belmont Hall, where Isaacs' department store 
now is, between Westervelt Avenue and Jersey Street. It was built in the 
1 8th century as a private residence and was used for many >ears by Major 
Duff, a West Pointer, as a military academy. The major became colonel 
of a New York regiment in the Mexican War and died in Mexico. 

(6.) John Drake Slant lived where the Muralo office now stands, be- 
tween York and Franklin Avenues; the house was destroyed by fire and 
was one of the oldest residences in New Brighton. 



(7.) "The Cement House" or "Ward House," at the corner of Frank- 
lin Avenue, is nearly a century old ; it is so called from being the first 
house built of cement blocks. It was the property of George A. Ward, 
who is said to have closely resembled George Washington. 

Continue on the Terrace. 

(8.) The Neville House or " Stone Jug," at the corner of Tysen Street ; 
now a hotel and was built about 1770 for a residence by Captain John 
Neville, U. S. N. 

(9.) Sailors' Snug Harbor, an institution for old and disabled sea- 
men. It was planned by Capt. Thos. Randall and founded by his son, 
Robert Richard Randall, who bequeathed his property, the Minto farm, 
just south of Union Square, Manhattan, for this purpose. Alexander 
Hamilton and Daniel D. Tompkins helped prepare the will, and Gov. 
DeWitt Clinton aided in securing the charter. Though founded in 1 801, on 
account of litigation, the corner-stone of the institution was not laid until 
1 83 1 and the first buildings were opened in 1833. The annual income 
from the rents of the Manhattan property yields about $400,000 a year. 

There are accommodations for about 1,000 inmates, all of whom must 
have been native-born citizens or must have served five years under the 
American flag. In all cases they must have served " before the mast." 

Continue on the Terrace to Davis Street. 

(10.) The Kreuzer-Pelton House at the Cove. It was built by Rolph 
in 1722 and later came in the hands of the Kreuzers. It was the head- 
quarters during the Revolution of Gen. Cortland Skinner, commandant of 
Skinner's "American Loyalists," and was occupied for a time by Prince 
William, who later became King William IV. Here Cruzer, Barnum's 
lightning calculator, was born. It was bought by Daniel Pelton in 1830, 
and his daughter, Mrs. Gen. Duffie, still lives here. 

On September 9, 1609, Henry Hudson sent out a small boat from his 
ship, the Half Moon, then in the Narrows, to explore the Kills ; when 
opposite the Cove, at West New Brighton, they were attacked by the 
Indians from the shore, and an English sailor named Coleman, who was in 
command of the boat, was killed by an arrow ; his remains were taken to 
Sandy Hook (some say Coney Island) and buried, the place being still 
called " Coleman's Point." 

Go down Bard Avenue to Henderson Avenue, at the N. IV. comer of 
which see 



(11.) The house where George William Curtis lived. 
Return to Richmond Terrace. 

(12.) Swan Hotel, a shingle-sided building opposite the Post Office. It 
stood originally on the adjoining ground and was the political centre of 
Staten Island; here, in 1825, the recently freed slaves of New Jersey, 
Staten Island and Long Island celebrated their emancipation. 

(13.) Fountain House site, between Van and Water Streets, now occu- 
pied by a store near the Church of the Ascension. The house, built in 
1750, was the headquarters of the British officers attached to the fort, 
which stood where the church is located ; it was burned, as a war measure, 
by Gen. Sullivan. It was the scene of the first public ball on Staten 
Island ; the phrase " fiddler's change " originated here, as it was customary 
to take up a collection for the musicians after each dance. It was also the 
local political headquarters. When the house was torn down in 1895 a 
painting by Milburn the artist, who stopped here in 1840, was discovered. 

Walk to the square bounded by the Terrace, Dongan, Bodine and Cedar 
Streets. 

(14.) Dong an House site, owned by the English Governor, Thomas 
Dongan (1682-1688), who in 1687 " purchased a manor house and some 
25,000 acres of ground " on Staten Island, which he formed into the 
" lordship and manor Cassiltowne." The house was his hunting lodge. 
He lived here until 1791, when he had to flee during the Leisler troubles. 
The estate went to his nephew, Aithur Edwards (Marcus Benjamin, in 
Wilson's Memorial History, says to the heirs of Walter Dongan, then to a 
Mr. Williamson). The house was destroyed by fire in 1878. Indian 
remains have been found near-by in the sand bank, and at the foot of the 
embankment was a famous spring, a meeting place for Indian harvest fes- 
tivals and treaty making. 

(15.) The DeGroot House, of Dutch architecture, at the corner of 
Columbia Street. DeGroot is the Dutch for LeGrand, the name of the 
original French family. 

Side trip along Columbia Street. 

(16.) The Scott-Edwards House, at the N. W. corner of Columbia and 
Prospect Streets, was the residence of Judge Edwards, the first Supreme 
Court Justice on Staten Island under the Republic ; he was the grandson 
of Jonathan Edwards and a cousin of Aaron Burr. 



(17.) The Tyler House, Clove Road, here a continuation of Columbia 
Street, and Broadway ; it was owned by Mrs. Juliana Gardner, mother of 
President Tyler's wife. It was bought in 1878 by Hon. W. M. Evarts and 
later occupied by the Russian Consul-General. The park has been cut up 
by speculators. 

Continue on the Clove Road. 

(18.) Oldest Corsen House on the island, a few rods west of Richmond 
Turnpike. It was built about 1690. 

Britton Mill, near Clove Lake, was the scene of local romances. 

Return on Clove Road to Cherry Lane, then south on Manor Road. 

(19.) The DuBois House, on the N. W. corner; General Santa Anna 
lived here (see No. 5). 

Go ivest on Cherry Lane to 

(20.) The Decker House, on Barrett Street, just off Cherry Lane ; the 
Decker family descended from Johannes de Decker, who arrived in 1655. 

Walk north on Decker Avenue and continuing streets to the Terrace at 
Port Richmond. 

(21.) Danner's Hotel, the old Port Richmond Hotel, also called the 
St. James Hotel, near the corner of Richmond Avenue. It stands on the 
site of the Revolutionary Fort Decker and was built soon after the war, as 
a private residence; it became a hotel in 1820 and was then the largest 
hotel in the county. Col. Burr was a guest of the Winant family and died 
herein September, 1836. 1854-1856, it was the headquarters of the Know- 
Nothing or American Party. Its name has been changed many times, and 
it is materially changed from the original building. 

There was another fort west of this locality. 

(22.) Yan Pelt Academy, behind the Post Office at Port Richmond on 
the Terrace just west of Richmond Avenue, was ence a famous school 
under the management of Dr. P. I. Van Pelt, minister of the Reformed 
Church ; it is now a furniture shop. 

(23.) Dutch Reformed Church, a short distance up Richmond Avenue 
from the Terrace, opposite Church Street ; it is on the site of the church 



burned during the Revolution; the Sunday School is said to he the oldest 
in the United States. See tablet over the front door. 

Go up Richmond Avenue, nearly opposite Harrison Street ; see 

(24.) The Jacques House, now Progress Hall; also called Harrison 
House. It was built by Isaac Jacques, a New York merchant and a de- 
scendant of the French Count Jacques, who came to this country toward 
the end of 17th century. The willows came from St. Helena, the box- 
wood from Mt. Vernon and the fence from the residence of Mr. Jacques in 
Whitehall Street in Manhattan. 

Walk along the Terrace to the Linseed Oil Mills. 

(25.) The Housinaii House site, S. W. corner John Street. The orig- 
inal Housman came to America in 1675 or 1676. 

(26.) The Lake- Croak House, between Bay and Simonsen Streets. 
The land on which it stands was part of a lot granted by Sir Edmund 
Andros to John Lee, Dec. 16, 1680. 

(27.) The Post House, on the Terrace, in the grounds of the Milliken 
Iron Works. 

(28.) The DeHart House, next the car barn, a short distance east of 
Holland Avenue. This house is over 150 years old and was once a school. 

There is an Indian graveyard on Holland (Howland) Hook, and on the 
heights at the approach to the ferry were two British forts. 

Go south on Western Avenue, under the R. R. bridge, to Old Place. 

See two or three old houses on the right, on the old Daniel Jones place. 

(29.) Old Place Mill, a little east, on Washington Avenue ; some of the 
foundations are still to be seen on the edge of the creek on the right side 
of the road. 

Some distance farther east, opposite Harbor Street, stood until 1904 the 
Va7t Pelt Cottage, over 200 years old. 

Go east on Washington Avenue past the school-house, and 011 the opposite 
side of the avenue, near South Avenue, see the 

(30.) Van Pelt-Decker House; the house stands a little back from 
Washington Avenue. Tradition says that the American forces found Van 
Pelt in bed ; he was summarily pulled out of bed and forced to accompany 
the troops into New Jersey ; the next day his wife succeeded in getting 
clothes to him, and he fought with the patriot army. Later his wife kept a 
tavern for soldiers of both armies. 



SECTION II.— ST. GEORGE TO NEW SPRINGVILLE. 
Take the trolley at St. George for Elizabeth Ferry and change to Bulls 
Head car at Port Richmond, passing 
(31.) Butler s Hotel site, at the head of Washington Avenue; this was 
a favorite resort of the sporting fraternity ; during the Revolution it was 
occupied by British officers as headquarters; burned in 1892. 
Get off the car at Vedder Avenue, walk east to Willow Brook Road and 
then south to Watchogue Road. 
(32.) Pero-Christopher House, at N. W. corner; across the road see 
(33.) Merserean House, where Col. Joshua Mersereau lived and from 
which he had a hairbreadth escape during the Revolution ; the British 
commander had put a price on his head. 

Southeast from Watchogue Road and Willow Brook Ave7iue, see 
(34.) The Vreelaiid House, now an Italian tenement. 

Walk east on Watchogue Road to Prohibition Park. 
(35.) The Corseu-Ives House, at the corner of St. John Street. Ives 
was at one time the bicycle champion of the United States. 

(36.) Bodine's Inn site, at Castleton Corners ; it was built by David 
Jacques before the Revolution; was made a hotel later and became the 
home of the actor Keene during his last days. 

Walk south on the Willow Brook Road to Willow Brook ; among the 
willows back of the ice-house, see 

(37.) The Christopher Homestead, where the Committee of Safety 
met during the Revolution ; it was reached by secret paths through the 
swamps; many Americans were captured while trying to reach it. 
Walk back to Richmond Turnpike, then west to Richmond or Old Stone 

Road. 

(38.) Bull's Head Tavern site at the corner ; it was built in 1741 , 
and was a Tory headquarters and the scene of many outrages ; burned 
1890. 

Continue south to New Springville. 

Long Neck, now known as New Springville, was the third oldest settle- 
ment on Staten Island. 

(39.) School House site, where the present building stands; the orig- 
inal school was built in the 17th century; the old stone was used in the 
present building. 



II 

Walk south to Rockland Avenue, then east to 
(10.) Corsen House site ; the Corsen family is one of the oldest on the 
island; the earliest mention of the name is in 1680. There are some fine 
family relics in the house, which stands on the old site. 

Get information here as to route to the wolf pit. 
(41.) Wolf Pit; reached by a pleasant trip through the woods to the 
north, or it may be visited from No. 34. The pit was built many years ago 
by Captain Jones, who owned the surrounding woods. It was covered 
with brush and leaves and was baited with a piece of meat hung from a 
sapling just above it ; the 'wolf would leap to this and fall through the 
brush into the hole. 

Go back to the village and, at the comer of Union Street, see 
(42.) The Old Crocheron House ; a little farther west is 
(43.) The later Crocheron House, which contains some fine old fur- 
niture. John Crocheron, the founder of the family here, was a prominent 
Huguenot ; to escape execution in France he hid in a hogshead on board a 
vessel by which his neighbors were coming to America. His will was dated 
December 13, 1695. 

Walk along Union Street to Richmond Turnpike, then toward Travis- 
ville. 

(44.) The Ridgeway House; along, low building, south of the road in 
the field. At Linoleumville, then called New Blazing Star, was a Revolu- 
tionary fort. 

Return to New Springville, walk south on Richmond Road, now Broad- 
way. 

(45.) La Blant House site ; built about 1690 by William, the son of 
Simon La Blant, who escaped from France during the Huguenot persecu- 
tion, and on his arrival here was known as Simonson ; he was the ancestor 
of the Simonson family in this country. The old house was of stone of the 
Dutch style of architecture, and, when it was destroyed, a brick building 
took its place. 

Continue on Broadway. 
(46.) The Blake-Miller House, built about 1668 ; it is situated on the 
left, a short distance from Union Street. 

A short walk brings one to Karles Neck. 
(47.) The Barne-Tysen House, stands off the road to the west ; the 
family came from Holland in 1660 and received a grant of land from Sir 
Edmund Andros in 1667. 



14 

Walk back to Bull's Head and take the trolley home or follow the Rich- 
mond Hill Road to Richmond, where the car may be taken for St. 
George. 

SECTION III.— ST. GEORGE TO ARROCHAR. 

Take the trolley or walk along the streets near the shore through Tomp- 
kinsville and Staple ton. 

(48.) Old Health Officers' Residence, the only remains of the former 
Quarantine property, now owned by the Am. Cotton Docks Co., next to 
the U. S. Light-House Reservation. The landing was the site of an old 
fort. 

Walk along Central Avenue to Arietta Street. 

(49.) Quarantine Ferry Landing', at the foot of Arietta Street, pass- 
ing the R. R. Station where was the site of Nautilus Hall (built about 
i8oo) ; this hall was a popular political resort, because " out of the way " ; it 
was the scene of receptions to Lafayette, Garibaldi, Van Buren, Tompkins. 
Scott, Ssward and others. 

At the corner of Griffin and Arietta Streets, see 

(50.) The Dutch Reformed Church site. The church was built over 
loo years ago and after many years used as a shop ; it was demolished in 
1907, to make way for a block of shops ; Governor Tompkins aided in its 
erection. 

Just above, on the south side of Sarah Ann Street, near the Richmond 
Turnpike, see 

(51.) General Tan Buren's Home. 

Walk along Griffin and Bay Streets ; see 

(52.) The Planters' Hotel, at the N. W. corner of Grant Street, was 
a popular resort for wealthy Southern planters. 

Go up Clinton and Church Streets ; see 

(53.) The Pavilion Hill, where are the remains of two Revolutionary 
forts ; one may get a fine view from this hill. 

Continue on Bay Street nearly to Congress. 
(54.) Commodore Yanderbilt's later house. 

Farther along, at the N. W. comer of Union Street, see 
(55.) Commodore Yanderbilt's earlier home. 



Continue on Bay Street. 

(56.) Seaman's Retreat, in the rear of the U. S. Marine Hospital ; it is 
over ioo years old. Just below in the vacant lot, corner of Bay and Simon- 
son Avenue, is the site of the first National headquarters of the Repub- 
lican party, where General Fremont received the news of his defeat in 
1856. 

Walk along Bay Street to Townsend Avenue. 

(57.) Townsend Castle site, at the west end of the avenue ; three 
brothers came about 1661 and founded the family ; the house was burned 
in 1885 together with a number of fine historical paintings. 

Follow New York Aventte to Chestnut Street. 

(58.) The Garibaldi House, near Bachman's brewery, at the corner of 
Tompkins Avenue, it is marked by a tablet placed on it by the lovers of 
the Italian General, who lived here for some time. With him lived Antonio 
Meucci, the inventor of a telephone system, who died here in 1889. 
The house was presented to the Italian Government, and is now pro- 
tected by a cement superstructure. 

Walk east on Chestnut Avenue to Bay Street, theft south. 

(59.) The Austin House at foot of Clifton Avenue, said to have been 
erected in 17 10 by a Dutch merchant ; it is well preserved in the original 
style and contains many relics of the Revolution. 

(60.) Quarantine at the foot of Cliff Street ; a British fort was located 
here. 

Continue on up Bay Street a?id New York Ave?iue to 

(61.) Forts Wadsworth and Tompkins, established by New York State 
during the war of 18:2. In 1847, the U. S. Government bought the 
reservation, demolished the old forts and built the present works, which 
have been constantly improved and brought up to date. It is said the first 
Dutch immigrants stopped here and a block house was erected here by 
DeVries ; this was several times destroyed by the Indians. 

The fort was rebuilt by the English in 1776. The last shot of the Revolu- 
tion was fired at this fort by a British gunboat on Evacuation Day, 1783, 
because of the open derision expressed by the onlooking Staten Islanders. 
It is hoped to mark this fort by a tablet. Inside the reservation is the 
Old Fountain House. 

(62.) Arrochar is reached from the fort by the railroad or one can 
walk there by way of Richmond Avenue. Arrochar Park was once 



known as Oude Dorp (Old Town) and is the site of the first Dutch settle- 
ment on Staten Island, 1641. The village consisted of several log huts 
and was destroyed three times by the Indians. (But see Note, p. 24 ) 
Walk along Ocea?i Avenue to South Beach. 

(63.) The Vreeland Homestead at South Beach was recently destroyed. 
Take the trolley back to St. George. 
SECTION 4.— ST. GEORGE TO NEW DORP AND 
RICHMOND. 
Take the trolley for New Dorp, passing 

(6-t.) Emerson Hill and House, called " The Snuggery." It is in Con- 
cord, earlier called Dutch Farms, on the west side of the road, just beyond 
the Clove Road, where the trolley from the North Shore connects with this 
line. The house was built by William Emerson. Judge of Richmond 
County, 1 841 -1 843, not far from his original house, "The Snuggery." 
Ralph W T aldo Emerson spent some time here ; Henry Thoreau was a 
teacher in the family. 

(65.) The Clinch Homestead, near Spring Street, Concord, opposite 
the hotel; it was built about 1700, and was the early home of Mrs. 
A. T. Stewart. 

Further on, at Garretson, on the east side of the road, see 

(60.) The Perrine Homestead, built about 1683. The village was 
named for John C. Garretson, whose two-century-old mansion here has 
lately disappeared. Opposite is Todt or Toad Hill, one of the high 
points on Staten Island. An old oak tree used by the Indians and latt-r by 
the whites as an outlook, was destroyed some years ago by wind. 

New Dorp, originally the name of the site at the Elm Tree Light, now 

embraces also Stony Brook ; here General Moncton rested with his army 

several weeks after the French and Indian war, during which time Sir 

Jeffrey Amherst was invested with the Order of the Bath, October 25, 1761. 

The trolley car passes on the right 

(67.) The Moravian Cemetery, within which is the Old Moravian 
Church and Parsonage (now used as the cemetery office) ; the original plot 
for this cemetery was bought on June 9, 1763, for $124.08^ being part cf 
the estate of Governor Dongan (see No. 14) ; the Vanderbilt family have 
added largely to the church property ; the corner-stone of the old church 
was laid July 7, 1763; in the cemetery are many graves antedating the 
church. See the Vanderbilt mausoleum. 



17 

(68.) The Aaron Cortelyon Homestead opposite the cemetery gate ; it 
is also called the Lake or Giffcrd House. 

SIDE TRIP TO ELM TREE LIGHT. 

Leave trolley at New Dorp Lane, then walk cast ; cross the R. R. track, 
passing on the left 
(69.) The Jaeobsen House, built by Christian Jacobsen, a sailor; dur- 
ing the Revolution, British soldiers entered the house and fatally shot him ; 
his will is dated January io, 1782. 

Nearly opposite, see 
(70.) The W. H. Yanderbilt House, now owned by George Vanderbilt. 

Near the foot of the lane, see 
(71.) The Cubherly House; the original name of the family is Coverle ; 
the first of the name came in 1769; see the quaint kitchen. 
At the extreme end of the lane, see 
(72.) Elm Tree Beacon, the landing place of the Huguenots, 1650 to 
1655. There was a chain of British breastworks near the shore ; the old 
Track House, until lately, stood on the Vanderbilt farm at the foot of the 
lane. 

On Coles Avenue, see 
(73.) The Lake Tysen House, situated in the field; the Lake family 
settled on the island in 1670, coming from England. The house is kept in 
its original condition by the descendants of the builders. 

To the south, see 
(74.) The Guyoii-Clarke House, at the foot of Guyon Avenue. It is 
an early Huguenot house, where was organized a British Masonic Lodge ; 
see the old clock in the hall, and the land patent signed by Sir Edmund 
Andros. 

The Club House, near by, was frequented by the most prominent peo- 
ple of the island. 

Not far away to the south on the Boulevard, see 
(75.) The Cole House; the family came to America in 1639, by way 
of Holland, where the name was changed to "Kool"; in America this 
became Cool, then Cole. 

Nearly opposite, on the edge of the marsh, see 
(76.) The Lockman House Ruins; the lintel piece, now in the pos- 
session of Mr. Hetherington, of Giffords, bears the inscription, May 22, 
1782. 



i8 

Return to New Dorp by way of Tysen Avenue to Amboy Road, passing 

through 

(77.) Stony Brook; the original Waldensian settlement in 1658 (Note, 
p. 24), the second oldest settlement on Staten Island, and the County Seat 
from 1683 to 1827. Here were Staten Island's first Court House and Jail, 
1683; first Church, 1670; first Whipping Post (witches were punished 
here) ; first market or trading place ; first marriage. 

The old Britton House was here ; the site is just about opposite Tysen 
Avenue, on the west side of the road; it was built between 1650 and 
1660 and demolished in 1896, being one of the oldest structures on Staten 
Island. It was used as a court house; the family were driven out during 
the Revolution, and the colonel of one of the British mounted regiments 
had his headquarters here; it was also used as a small-pox hospital. In 
early days it was the scene of an Indian massacre, where a whole family 
was killed. 

Continue to New Dorp, see 

(78.) The Black Horse Tavern, at the corner of Amboy Road and 
Richmond Road, a resort of British officers during the Revolution. 

Opposite, at the head of New Dorp Lane, is the site of the Patten 
House, built in 1836 or 1837 to accommodate the crowds who came to see 
the New Dorp races along the Lane. It was a favorite resort of the Van- 
derbilts ; in its later days it was used as a Roman Catholic institution and 
finally as a tenement. 

(79.) The Rose a?id Crown House stood a little to the north of New 
Dorp Lane on the west side of Richmond Road ; it was built by early 
Huguenot settlers, and was the birthplace of Bishop Bedell ; while the 
headquarters of Sir Wm. Howe, here he and his brother first heard the 
reading of the Declaration of Independence; later it was occupied by Brit- 
ish officers, among them General Knyphausen ; it was torn down in 1854. 

(80.) The Fountain House, on the opposite side of Richmond Road 
and just above the Black Horse Tavern, recently remodeled ; it is possibly 
the oldest house remaining on Staten Island. Here Margaret Moncrieffe 
stayed and met Captain Coghlan ; here, also, Lieut. Sidney A. Simonson 
was born. Near by is Camp Hill, a British gambling resort. 
Take trolley to Richmond, passing at the bend of the road, just beyo7id 
New Dorp village, the duelli?ig ground of the British officers. 

(81.) The Grote House, later occupied by Dr. Rotton, just beyond the 
corner of Egbertville and Rockland Avenues ; it is over 100 years old and 



19 

was originally the home of Colonel Richard Connor (?), where Aaron Burr 
made his last call. Above the ravine is the old Egbert ville Academy. 

Richmond, formerly Cuckoldstowne or Cucklestowne, became the 
County Seat in 1827. 

At the end of the trolley line tur)i to the north. 
(82.) St. Andrews Church, one of the four churches established (1708), 
by Queen Anne ; the church has still part of the silver service given by her 
to the church ; it was occupied by the British as a hospital and was the 
centre of two Revolutionary fights. The original building was built in 
1713. See memorial tablet to commemorate Anne's gift in 1708 (to be 
unveiled October 21, 1908). 

On the hill where the school house stands were 
(83.) The Whipping Post, removed 1825, and the Gallows, the scene 
of the first execution in the county. (See Map No. III). 

MOfUn 



CAST 



ft ICH mono Road 




SOWTH 

MAP No. III. 

(84.) Later Latourette House, made of brick ; see 
(85.) The older Latourette House ruins — a council of war took place 
here leading to the battle of Springfield. It was the headquarters of 



20 

Lt.-Col. Simcoe, commanding the " Queen's Rangers." The Holmes 
family, ancestors of Nancy Hanks and Abraham Lincoln, once lived in 
this house. The earliest mention of the Latourette family is in 1726. 

(86.) Olil Mill. 

Return to the Village on the Mill Road. 

(87.) The Barton House and old Cuckoldstowne Inn site, corner of Rich- 
mond Road and Court Street, behind the County Clerk's office; this was 
the headquarters of General Cleveland, chief engineer of the British Army ; 
here it was that Andre wrote his will. 

(87A.) County Clerk's office. 

(88.) Second County Court House site ; building destroyed by the 
British in the Revolution (the first was at Stony Brook) ; the site was occu- 
pied for many years by the Richmond County Hall and since 1890 by St. 
Andrews Parish House. 

(88A.) Third County Court House, occupied by the Board of Super- 
visors, October, 1794, for the first time. In 1837 it was a dwelling and now 
a hotel, 

(88B.) Fourth County Court House, on Tysen Street, new in use. 

(88C.) Second County Jail, 1727, where now the street leads to Rich- 
mond Road. The first jail was in Stony Brook. 
Nearly opposite was 

(89.) Old Dutch Reformed Church, original site; built 1808. See 
graveyard near by. 

(89 A.) Site Old Dutch Reformed Church (second location, foundation 
may still be seen). 

There were three Revolutionary forts in Richmond, all on the hill above 
St. Andrew's Church : one about 300 yards from the church, one still 
standing about a third of a mile west, and another on the hill overlooking 
the meadows, where the Bedell graveyard is located. 

Richmond was the site of the camp of the Seventeenth British Dra- 
goons, the only regular British cavalry regiment in the Revolution ; they 
acted as General Clinton's bodyguard. 

SECTION 5.— ST. GEORGE TO GREENRIDGE AND GREAT 

KILLS. 
Take the t roller at St. George to Richmond; then the Fresh Kills Road 

to Greenridge, called in the early days Marshland and Fresh Kills, 

passing on the right, just across the bridge, 



21 

(DO.) Benham Mansion rums; the house was built by Commander T. 
G. Benham when he was a Lieutenant in the Mexican War ; it was burned 
down 1897. Pass on the right the Cortelyou House, of late Dutch archi- 
tecture, to the road leading to the right to the mill, now a cement block 
factory ; see the picturesque ruins of the millwheel behind the building. 

Pass on the left 

(91.) Bedell House site, built in 1670, and a little farther on the site of 
the "House by the Mill" built in 1685; the latter house was a military 
storehouse during the Revolution ; near it was a British fort and a Dragoon 
camp. Two battles were fought here. The Bedells came to America 
1673, settling on Long Island, settling on Staten Island a century later, 
1767 ; see mention of the family in the county records, where Silas Bedell 
rendered a bill for doctoring. 

(92.) The Seaman House site, at the S. E. corner of Fresh Kills Road 
and Eltingville Road ; this was the home of Benjamin Seaman, the last of 
the Colonial judges in Richmond County; he went to New Brunswick- 
after the Revolution. The house was burned in 1890. 

(93 ) The Huguenot Church site, where the present barn stands on 
the Seaman estate ; it was built between 1680 and 1695 ! the spot is to be 
marked with a stone ; in the old churchyard were buried the last of Staten 
Island Indians in 1826. 

Return on Fresh Kills Road to Giffords Lane, then south. 

(91.) Small Stone Building on the west side of the lane, a few feet 
from Fresh Kills Road; it is said that this is one of the houses where 
courts were held years ago. 

(95.) " Holy Spring House," on the east side of the lane, at the corner 
of Dewey Avenue, in the hollow by a big tree. The earliest Roman 
Catholic services on this part of the island were held here. 

Continue to Giffords, called Great Kills. 
(96.) Old School House site, near the Post Office and store of J. W. 
Hetherington, where may be seen relics of the Poillon family and other 
relics. Go down Hillside Avenue to the Boulevard, where are situated the 
three following Poillon houses built about 1694 : 

(97.) The "Seguine House," a few feet east of Hillside Avenue. 
(98.) The "Erastus Wiman House," a short distance west of Hillside 
Avenue. Wiman did a great deal to awaken Staten Island. 



22 

(99.) The " Woods of Arden House," quite a distance farther along, 
near Townsend Avenue. The name was given by Wiman. The Juurneay 
House ruins are passed on the way. 

There was an Indian burying-ground in Great Kills. 

Seguine's Point was the scene of a riot in 1857 on account of the at- 
tempt to establish here a quarantine station. The quarantine buildings 
were burned and the County was forced to pay the State $100,000 damages. 
A floating hospital for yellow fever cases was located here in 1859. In 
i860 Swinburne Island was made by filling in, and in 1873 Hoffman Island 
was made in a similar manner, and so Seguine's Point was freed from the 
terror of contagious diseases. 

Return by Townsend Avenue to R. R. stations at either Eltingville or 

Annadale. 

Side Trip to Rossville and Woodrow. 

Follow Fresh Kills Road to Rossville ; previous to the Revolution this was 
called " Smoking Point " and " Blazing Star." 

(100.) Old Mill, where Richmond Creek empties into Fresh Kills. 

(101.) Oakley House, near the foot of Rossville Avenue, sometimes 
called Shea's Lane ; it was the birthplace of James A. Bradley, the founder 
of Asbury Park ; Bishop Asbury was entertained here soon after his arrival 
from England, 

It is claimed that the old stone house that stood until 1850 on the farm 
of Samuel W. Benedict, near Rossville, was built by David Petersen de Vries, 
who came here from Holland in 1636 and established a bouwerieon Staten 
Island. There was a military redoubt at Rossville near the Decker House. 

Walk down Rossville Avenue to Woodrow Road, then turn east. 

(102.) The Winant House, used by Tory marauders ; a quantity of 
silver was found in the cellar several years ago. 

Opposite is the Methodist Church, on the site of the first M. E. Church 
on Staten Island and the second in America, about 1787 or 1788. 

Walk across Huguenot Lane and follow Jour neay Avenue. 

(103.) Peter Van Pelt House site, known as the Nolan House, de- 
stroyed in 1904 ; it is located just back of the present Nolan House. Bishop 
Asbury preached here shortly after his arrival in America. 

Return to Huguenot Lane, then south to Huguetiot R. R. Station. 



23 

SECTION VI.— ST. GEORGE TO TOTTENVILLE. 

Take the train to Tottenville, passing through Richmond Valley. 

(104.) The Old Tabernacle Ruins, built 1822 as a place for Methodist 
worship. 

Tottenville was formerly known as the Manor of Bentley. 

(105.) Union House site, between the two shipyards on Railroad 
Avenue, at the foot of Tyrrell Street. It was built in 1784 and was orig- 
inally the Johnson farmhouse ; it was in the parlor of this house, later used 
as a barroom, that Commodore Vanderbilt married his cousin, Sophia 
Johnson. 

Walk along Broadway to Church Street, then over the mill dam. 

(106.) The Disosway-Cole Mill site, over 100 years old at the time of 
its destruction ; some of the foundation stones can yet be seen at the end 
of the dam to the left. 

Return to the village, then follow Broadway, Main Street and Amboy 
Road to the Lane and Bentley Avenue. 

(107.) The Billopp House, built about 1668 by Christopher Billopp, 
who. in 1668 aided New York's claim to Staten Island by circumnavigating 
the island in one of his own vessels in less than 24 hours ; his reward was 
the grant of 1,163 acres on the south shore, which he named for his vessel 
" Bentley Manor." His grandson, Christopher, Jr., was a loyalist and was 
carried off for ransom by some American Rangers and kept until exchanged 
for an American prisoner. He was again taken but was freed by Wash- 
ington at Howe's request. After the war he went to live in Nova Scotia. 

In this house took place an interview between Howe and an American 
committee, composed of Adams, Franklin and Rutledge, after the battle of 
Long Island, but no satisfactory agreement was reached. There have been 
several attempts to get the State to buy and preserve the house. The old 
family burying-ground has disappeared, but two old gravestones lean against 
the veranda. Sir Henry Clinton, Generals Robertson and Knyphausen and 
Major Andre visited here. Near the house is an old Indian burying-ground. 
At the present writing, a small fee is expected on being shown over the 
house. 

Continue to the extreme point of the island. 

(108.) Fori ruins ; the fort was started by the War Department during 
the Spanish-American War ; blocks of concrete can be seen. 

(109.) Garretson House site ; the boat-house keeper on the beach will 
show the way across the meadow to Belmont Street ; then walk to Man- 



24 

hattan Street to Arlington ; a bungalow is now on the site. The family is 
Dutch and came here in 1660, from Holland, bringing with them a certifi- 
cate of good character and good deportment from the burgomaster of their 
native city. There was a Revolutionary fort at Kreisherville. 

Side Trip to Princess Bay. 
Get off the R. R. tram at Princess Bay Station and walk south o?i Princess 

Bay Road. 
(110.) Pnrdy's Hotel on the shore ; it is nearly 200 years old, but well 
preserved. 

A short walk along the shore brings one to 
(111.) The Androvette House. The family took up land in 1699. 
(112.) (113.) The sites of British forts. 

Return by train to St. George. 

NOTE : Mr. James H. Innes thinks that Oude Dorp was not built until 1662-63 
by Stuyvesant, on the order of the West India Company to fortify points on either 
side of the Narrows. In 1661 he informed the Company that all the houses in Staten 
Island had been destroyed during the Indian wars. Later he wrote that the village 
had been built about one-half hour's walk from the Narrows, there being no con- 
venient place nearer the water. It was visited by the Labadists in 1679 (see their 
Journal in the L. I. Soc. Memoirs), when there were seven houses, three only inhab- 
ited, the people having removed on account of the poor soil to " Niewe Dorp." 

He doubts that the Rapaelje family ever settled in Staten Island, or that Wal- 
denses founded Stony Brook, there being no documentary proof of these statements 
extant (see Nos. 62, 66, 77, pp. 3, 15, 16, 18). 

HISTORICAL EXCURSION LEAFLETS. 

* No. I. — City Hall to Wall Street, 16 pp., i cut, 2 maps ; 5 cents. 

* No. II. — Greenwich Village and Lispenard's Meadows, 16 pp., 3 maps ; 5 cents. 

* No. III. — The Bowery and East Side, 16 pp., 3 maps ; 5 cents. 

* No. IV. — Central Park to Kingsbridge, 20 pp., 5 maps ; 5 cents. 

* No. V.— The 19th Century City: 14th Street to 110th Street; with Sup. C, 24 pp.. 

2 mips ; 5 cents. 

* No. VI. — Fraunces Tavern, 8 pp., 1 map, 2 cuts ; 5 cents. 

* No. VII. — South of Wall Street. 16 pp., 2 maps ; 5 cents. 

No. VIII. — Historic Brooklyn, Part I, 12 pp., 4 maps, 2 cuts ; 5 cents. 

No. IX. — Historic Bronx, 30 pp., 5 maps ; 10 cents. 

No. X. — Historic Richmond, 24 pp., 3 maps ; 10 cents. 

No. XI. — Historic Queens. Price 10 cents (in preparation). 

No. XII. — Historic Brooklyn, Part II. Price 10 cents (in preparation). 

* Supplement B. — Additions and corrections, 1906. (Free with set.) 
Supplement C. — Additions and corrections to Excursion V. (Free with V.) 

* On the Supply List of the Board of Education of New York. 

Sent on receipt of price, by the City History Club, 23 W. 44th Street. 

Y5898 



1 .«£ 




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